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When Tony Popovic at last gathered his first Socceroos squad, the fresh coach outlined a series of requirements. Most were clear and concise – suitable considering the disruption following his abrupt arrival, after Graham Arnold’s departure, and with under three weeks to make arrangements for vital 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against China and Japan.

Popovic insisted that any player who hoped to represent in a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an “premier” mentality to earn, or continue to earn that honour. But there was a further message. More an inspiration and an invitation to excel – and one that has been thrown clearer into focus with every step taken on the path towards the World Cup in North America.

“My expectations were to do something remarkable, in my introductory talk to the players,” Popovic says. “That remains the same.”

Just over a year on from that meeting in an Adelaide hotel, plenty of other things have evolved, even if Popovic’s goals stay the same. The coach, for one, appears truly comfortable as Socceroos manager. The 52-year-old’s reputation for austerity sharply contrasts with the open and at times light-hearted figure engaging openly for over an hour in what have become frequent sit-downs with football media. Similarly have the performances of his team progressed, with thoughts of a defeat to Bahrain and tie with Indonesia seeming fairly distant after wins over Japan and Saudi Arabia in June booked the Socceroos’ place in next year’s global tournament.

Those triumphs came as part of an 11-game undefeated streak under Popovic, one that was only ended away by the United States earlier this month. It’s form that has taken the Socceroos to the unlikely brink of breaking into pot two in the World Cup draw. The results of November friendlies against Venezuela, currently ranked 50th in the world, and 13th-ranked Colombia – as well as Ecuador’s games against Canada and New Zealand, and the final games of European qualifying – are significant in this respect.

Even though Popovic concedes that he arrived in the job expecting to only be able to depend on a main squad of players, he now believes the pool he can trust has grown. This isn’t just through the emergence of youngsters such as Nestory Irankunda, Max Balard, or Mohamed Touré as real international players. There are also the cases of Miloš Degenek’s return from the obscurity and Paul Izzo’s blossoming into a genuine Socceroos keeper with the ability to challenge Maty Ryan.

“The squad has totally changed in my mind – of what’s achievable with players that have joined,” Popovic says. “I first thought, ‘OK, this is my group; I don’t really have much outside of this. Just manage and make them better.’ Now, I believe like there are 15, 20 players that have come into that, and I’m sure there are others to come that I trust can help make us better as a squad at the World Cup.”

This surprising rise of talent, and the transformation in outlook it has inspired in Popovic, has opened the door for players on the periphery of the squad. Even those not yet viewed among those group can hold out hope that, come June next year, they could be on the roster. A player like Adrian Segečić might be about to sit out a month of playing due to an ankle injury, but if he – or any other player – keeps to perform regularly, then the coach is making clear they’re every chance of being part of his plans.

“I don’t want to put a restriction or a halt on that – to declare in March that this is our squad, and there may be one or two more additions,” Popovic says. “No, I want every player to feel that they have an chance. Why can’t there be one more player that steps up in June?”

But this broadening, in a way, leads back to Popovic’s first talk as Socceroos head coach. For just as much as he wants players to surprise him, to do something remarkable and exceed the expectations others have for them, he wants his team to have the same philosophy.

“Saying I want to do something special is just ‘we don’t want to have limits’,” Popovic says. “We don’t want to box ourselves into ‘let’s be contenders at the World Cup, and let’s go home and congratulate ourselves for being there’.

“I repeat it to the group: one day, Australia will go deep in the World Cup. And why not this group? Why do we have to wait two or three World Cups, when I’m sitting back and applauding something special from the Socceroos? Why should we have limits? Why not do it now?”